Lookout Peak (near Ophir)

[mkrier]

Hey all - Was looking to do the 13er Lookout Peak or something similar this weekend near Telluride and had a couple questions as I haven't been able to find very much information on this peak.


- What is the Ophir Road like coming from the west side? I'm staying in Telluride and the only two trip reports I can find both came from the east.

- General thoughts on this route? Why are there so few reports/beta on this peak? (maybe this is the norm for 13ers in the San Juan range)

- Does anyone recommend any other relatively easy class 3 12er/13ers near Telluride?


Thanks for your help - Matt

[Kevin Baker]

Matt:

I haven't been up from the west side in a few years, but it isn't too bad. It is rougher than the east side, but I did see a sedan that made it up from the west side.

I did Lookout over Memorial Day weekend and it is a fun half day outing. It is actually pretty well cairned. You will want to access the south ridge via a grass/scree ramp to the left of an obvious scree gully. Once you are on the ridge, it is pretty well cairned. From below, it looks like the ridge doesn't go. The upper route on the south face does have some exposure on kitty litter with some 3rd class. I will post my pics from the outing later.

[IntrepidXJ]

West side of Ophir Pass is pretty easy....rocky and narrow in a few places, but any vehicle with a little clearance should have no issues. I drove over a few weeks ago.

[mkrier]

Thanks Intrepid.

Thanks Kevin. I saw Furthermore's TR back in 2009, and he mentioned some of the moves were a "bit exposed" and another TR mentioning 5th class terrain, etc. so just wanted a better idea of what I was getting my group into.

[GeorgiaTyler]

Lookout actually has a little bit of climbing, at least the route we took strait off the pass. Nothing complicated, but some climbing experience is preferred (in my opinion), not really exposed but some 10-15 foot chimneys and such... The view of Columbine lake is outrageous.

[Kevin Baker]

Here is a public link to my Facebook album for Lookout.


https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... a60a0f1dd8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Marmot72]

I don't recall any chimneys; just a lot of loose grit and rubble on class three stuff. A very short hike but the backside with its towers and glowing Columbine lake make it worth the junk getting up and down. Maybe a 4th class move or two is required, but fifth class terrain can definitely be avoided.

[sdkeil]

I will echo what Kevin said about the route. Take the first grassy gully once you get up into the basin. The ridge is fairly straight forward. It was pretty obvious when you had traverse out onto the south face. That is where the class 3 and kitty litter comes into play. There might have been one class 4 move near the bottom of this section. Have fun the views are great!

[mkrier]

Thanks for the information guys & also to Kevin for posting pictures. Heading down today, hopefully weather clears soon.

[GeorgiaTyler]

I think we were in the mood to climb that day... so maybe we went off route and got up into some rock to climb.... go for it!